Why Summer Break is no Break

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When the school year starts some parents dance a little.

When the school years ends.. a reality sets-in.

Because summer break means there are a lot of kids with a lot of time on their hands.

That’s why districts all over the country are discussing the idea of extending the school year so the summer break can be shorter. It’s a way to prevent what’s referred to as the “summer slide.” That’s when someone forgets concepts they learned between August and May.

Politicians can say we have to do this to keep-up with other countries because kids in places like Japan and France go to school more.

I think there is a bigger reason a longer school year makes sense: school is a life-preserver when it comes to daycare!

Time can move slowly when there are few options in June or July - especially if you can’t afford to send your kids to summer camp and your older kids don’t have luck getting a summer job.

I’m sure most of you have an issue or two with public education, but at least it keeps a routine going. Summer can be a vast wasteland of sleeping-in while mom and dad work, and it feels no one is better off come the end of August.

So, I know there are a lot of you out there who hope to see a day when the school year is actually a school YEAR.